The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-11
AR. BEsCHER'S FUNERAL.
In SPITE OF A RAIN THOUSANDS
CROWD
About the Vicinity OF dis Residence
at an Early HOur to
Take ga
LAST GLIMPSE OF HIS LIFE
LESS FORM
Before IL Is Borne Away TO the
Final Resting Place
ON Earth.
NONE OF TIE FAMILY DRESSED
In BLACK,
But, as the Great Divine Wished,
Everything Was Made as Bright
as Possible.
NONE OF TIE FAMILY DRESSED
In BLACK,

NEw YORK, March 10.-In spite Of
the ram the reefs in tbs vicinity #
the Rev. Henry Waid Beecher's
hue were crowded with people this
morning. At 8 O'Clock Police Captain
Cam Il bell and a squad OF twenty
police took up their stations in front
nt the house. A large number of
floral emblems we're received b5f re
the private services commenced. Two
wfeaths Of white Ioses, lilies OF the
valley and smlsx were received by
Mira. Col. Beecher early in the orn-
log. These bore the cards of Ellen
Terry and Henry Irving. Mrs. s. v.
White sent a pillar of white roses.
The coffiu rested in the center of the
frout parlor and was surrounded by a
band OF fragrant flowers. The sweet
perfume psrvsd d the air and on all
sides could be seen floral emblems
from the friends and admirers OF the
dead divine. The remains were
dressed in a suit of black broadclotb,
with the irock coat buttoned up and
the right hand laid across the heart.
The features were natural and there
was a smile upon the face. The long
gray hair was brushed back over the
ears, the same Is MIR. Beecher wore it
while alive.
Early in the morning, before the
services, Mrs. Beecher went into the
psrlor and stood by the coffin for some
time. SIZE bent over the remains and
after imprinting kiss upon the cold
lips, wa led into the back room.
Promptly at $3.50 o'clock the Rev.
Charles II. Hall, OF the Church Of the
the Holy Trinity entered the house.
After a short conversation with Maj n
J. B. Pond, he entered the front par
Tor and commenced to read the burial
service from the ritual OF the Epi. CO.
pal Church. A quartette Gang "Jesus
Lover of My Som" "Bey ond the Sigh
ing and the Weeping" aud "Come
Holy Spirit"
While the services were in progress
in the house, Company G, known as
Plymouth Company, Of the Thirteenth
Regiment, was drawn up in front of
the House on Hicks street, they
were dressed in regulation uniform.
Only the members of the family and
few intimate friends were present dur
ing the services at the house, the fam
lily were seated in the back parlor.
None OF the family were dressed in
black. Mrs. Beecher eat near the re-
mains during the reading Of the
services, and by her side were her
sons and daughter, and the members
OF their families. She bora up wonder
fully during the whole of The cere-
mony, and was quite calm. A few
minutes before the remains were car
ried out OF the house to the hesrae the
rain ceased, the clouds pas sed away,
and the sunshine burst out bright
aud clear. A ray shOne through the
front window Of tie psrlor, and before
the lid OF the ,sket was sore we'd down
rested upon the face OF the great
divine, lighting it up and forming a
halo around the head.
At the conc.usi OF the services at
the house the Rev. Dr. Hall spoke for
fifteen minutee. He was very much
affected, and evidently spoke from
his heart. DR.. Hall began by refer
ring to the beautiful Jewish custom of
whispering in the ear of the dying
person the Hebrew sentence, which,
when translated into Engish, meant
'ihe Lord Jehovah is our God" and
then described how, when the head
OF the household died, the beautiful
sign. fcance OF the ceremony of bear
Jog the body cut at the front door and
the laying of it on the ground with
car die at the head and another at the
feet; how the layiog of the body on
the ground was emblematic of the fact
that we are all from Mother Earth,
and to her must return, no matter
what difference there was in our posi-
ton in life, and how death ma 10 us
all equal. The speaker went on to
show that the Significance of this was
further shown in the laying Of this
body on the ground without the Gov
ering of wealth, no matter how h gin
the position the Hebrew dead may
havo neld in life; with Mr.. Beechor,
v no was most empbaHcally man OF
the people, that the plain and simple
service was specially appropriate and
that that reference should be made of
him. Coming down to The SPEAKERS
acquaintance with Mr.. Beecher, DIR.
Hs spoke affectionately of the strong
friendship tina. for years had existed
between them, He bri, fly alluded to
how that acquaintance was made n
the old slavery days, The circums az ces
of which are now matters of history,
aud said that why Mr.. BAechtr had
entrl tained for him DE. Hal. such a
strong, uuswt rving and loyal attach
ment he could not tell. H. could tell
why it was that he loved MIR. Beecher
IL was because of his noble minded
q ess; his love for all msn; mis- tinCeri-
~ for a friend in trouble and his
many beautiful traits of perionsl
character that were known to and
made their dear departed brother
loved aud honored by all the world.
The members OF the family then re-
tired 10 other rooms, and Undeitaker
Hopper's assistants came 10 and car
ried the casket down The steps and tn
the hearse, which stood in the rear of
the Thirteenth Regiment. On the
coffin was laid pail OF bright green
ferns, and with lis emerald bues inter-
the beautiful chad of many
varieties OF roses. The Plymouth Com
DanY, which had led the van of the
regiment as 1t approached thu house,
ormed eight file front aud folio we'd
he coffin to the rear, and then took
he position of guard Of honor.
AS the offin was brought out OF the
house the bugle band oil the regiment
cunded eolemn Urge. As soon as
he guard of hon had taken up its
'osiIion around the heaue, the reei-
nent was formed INFO twelve file front,
With arms reversed. Thu procession
hen moved slowly down CLARK street |
mil the hesrse passed the front OF
he house, when the members OF the
smily who so desi' ed got ia the
rrisges in waiting and brought
p the rear, fAl ing 10 line as tle
ort go moved on. Tie dunn c,rps
layed funeral mach with mufn d
- n u l. ah